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The Young Marines, a national youth organization, announced the Division 6 Young Marine of the Year – YM/SgtMaj Sean Laghaei, 17, of Huntington Beach, California. He is a member of the Southeast County Young Marines meeting in Midway City, California. He is a junior at Huntington Beach High School.
Laghaei is the top Young Marine in Division 6 which includes eight states: Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. Over the course of the year, he will travel to other units throughout the division to lead, motivate, and serve as a role model for other Young Marines in the program.
In addition, Laghaei will escort WWII veterans in the summer 2022 to the annual Reunion of Honor trip which takes place in Guam and Iwo Jima. The island of Iwo Jima is open only one day each year for this special reunion of Japanese and American veterans. The Reunion of Honor was cancelled in 2021 because of COVID.
“The opportunity to go to Guam and Iwo Jima is an experience that I thought I would never have,” he said, “I feel privileged to represent the Young Marines in honoring those who served during WWII.”
Laghaei joined the Young Marines at age eight. He said that to this day he is so happy his parents encouraged him to be in the program. It has opened gates he never thought were possible.
His achievements include being named Unit Young Marine of the Year, Battalion Young Marine of the Year, and being a Public Affairs Correspondent. Outside of Young Marines, he enjoys cooking, off-roading, and working towards his pilot’s license.
“Sean Laghaei is an extraordinary Young Marine,” said Col William P. Davis USMC (Ret), national executive director and CEO of the Young Marines. “All our division winners show great qualities of leadership and reverence to veterans. Each lives a healthy drug-free lifestyle which is a foundation of the Young Marines program.”
After high school, Sean wants to attend Southern Utah University where he plans to study fixed-wing aeronautics to become a commercial pilot.
He is the son of Kelly Ann and Farid Laghaei, both Adult Volunteers in the Young Marines.
“If nine years ago you would have told eight-year-old me that I would be traveling the nation representing the Young Marines, I simply wouldn’t believe you, but here I am,” Laghaei said. “I have gained tremendous skills that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. These skills have made me a better person.”
How it works
The Young Marines organization is divided into six divisions across the United States. Each Division Young Marine of the Year must meet vigorous requirements such as graduating from Advanced Leadership School at the Young Marines’ National Leadership Academy, maintaining high academic achievement in school, and maintaining high standards of physical fitness.
Laghaei will represent Division 6 in competition with five other division winners for the title of National Young Marine of the Year.
About the Young Marines
The Young Marines is a national non-profit 501(c)(3) youth education and service program for boys and girls, age eight through high school graduation. The Young Marines promotes the mental, moral, and physical development of its members. The program focuses on teaching the values of leadership, teamwork, and self-discipline, so its members can live and promote a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.
Since the Young Marines’ humble beginnings in 1959 with one unit and a handful of boys, the organization has grown to over 235 units with 5,700 youth and 2,100 adult volunteers in 40 states, the District of Columbia, Japan, and affiliates in a host of other countries.
For more information, visit the official website at: https://youngmarines.org.
